Merced County Nut Festival

October 19, 2024, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Merced County Fairgrounds
900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Merced, CA
$1 donation, facebook.com/p/ Merced-County- Nut-Festival- 100067337311753/
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, call at (209) 930-4070 or email mercedcountynutfestival@yahoo.com.

NOTE: The event is produced by a  Necola Adams, who posted a Gofundme.com page stating she has been injured twice recently in car accidents that have left her unable to raise the $5000 needed to operate this event.

MERCED, CALIF. – It's only natural that the fall season brings out the nuts in Merced each year. Between Halloween, daylight savings "fall-back" the clock, the approach of Thanksgiving, snow in the Sierras and Christmas, there are so many changes. One of the biggest activities, however, is the nut harvest. California is the sole producer of 100% of  almonds, walnuts and pistachios, and guess what? Merced grows them — a lot!

Merced County Nut Festival celebrates the county's role as one of the top 5 California counties for growing nuts and it's a big deal. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are the state's 2nd most valuable export commodity (behind milk) with the European Union being the top nut consumer to the tune of more than $3 billion. So how do the nutty people of Merced celebrate? Here's how...

2024 Entertainment

• Nut Industry Education Demos by Merced Area Farmers
  Learn how nuts are grown, harvested and processed from Tree to Table
• Free Concerts by Local Bands with headliner Mike Hammer and the Nails
• New Wine Pavilion by Vinhos Wine Lounge
• Nut Bake Off with Celebrity Judges and Cash Prizes
• Kids Face Painting, Art, Games, Rock Painting
• The Squirrel, The Crow and the Raccoon, puppet show by local playwright and poet Kim McMillon
• Craft Vendors
• Food Vendors
• Rawhide Express tram transports guests to and from parking areas and around the festival free 

UC Merced volunteers  have been invited to help at the gate with counters (a click for each person that comes through), help in the children's area with Merced Rocks (painting on rocks), reader's corner for story time with small children, along with a puppet show where volunteers help setup and take down the seating area, face painting.

The day is filled with free performances by local entertainers, food and crafts vendors, industry demonstrations, and more. 

2024 Schedule

• 10 a.m. Opening Ceremonies and History of the Merced County Nut Festival
• 10:30 a.m. For His Glory Praise Dance Ministry, Main Stage
• 11 a.m. Sista C and the CooBros, Main Stage
• 11:50 a.m. Bake-Off Winners, Main Stage
• 12, 1 & 3 p.m. Puppet Show 
• 1 p.m. Ballet Folklorico-Herencia Hispaņa 
• 1:40 p.m. Reonna Hallion Rap Performance 
• 2:15 p.m. South Pacific Dance Company
• 3 & 4 p.m. Rock concert with Mike Hammar and the Nails, Main Stage
• 4:45 p.m. Line Dancing with Audience Participation
• 5 p.m. Closing Ceremony

Vinhos Wine Lounge of Merced hosts a Wine Garden featuring a variety of foods from local vendors.

Nut Bake-Off featuring Almonds, Walnuts or Pistachios includes the grand prize of $100  for winners in Adult and Child Divisions. The judging and awards are presented on the Main Stage. 

Necola Adams of CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Inc. says the nut industry connects and touches everyone living in and around Merced. She sees the festival as a fun way to celebrate that connection to people's lives.

 Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.